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BRO launches 61 border roads

In a bid to match infra deficit in areas bordering China, the Border Roads Organisation has been entrusted with building 61 roads with stepped up pace of work in the border belt and several critical high altitude linking project would be completed well before the 2020-21 deadline. Though the completion time-frame for most of the roads is 2021, many will be ready earlier as enhanced financial powers given to the organisation recently begin to show results on the ground. The construction of India-China roads has already seen a marked improvement in the past two-three years with the speed increasing from 107 km in 2014-15 to 147 km in 2016-17. Similarly, progress on surfacing roads has also increased from 174 km to 233 km in 2016-17 despite the heights and hard rock stretches. The improved pace, given a limited working season of four to six months, is particularly noticeable on roads where the government accorded special dispensation considering the hostile work environment. As of now, against 3,400 km of 61 India-China roads under the BRO's charge, just 270 km of formation cutting remains to achieve 100% connectivity — meaning road building can begin from both ends of the project.